PAL — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3001G160500 (SbPAL) on sorghum chromosome 1 encodes a protein with phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (EC 4.3.1.24), tyrosine ammonia-lyase activity, and ammonia-lyase activity, belonging to the aromatic lyase family. The gene is associated with phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis, salicylic acid and cinnamic acid metabolism, and alkaloid metabolism. It is linked to drought recovery, UV-B response, low humidity response, guard cell fate commitment, and regulation of cell differentiation and division. Associations include photosynthetic rate, IAA content, and UV light sensitivity. The gene is also connected to pathogen resistance, defense responses, salt stress tolerance, flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis, freezing tolerance, and herbicide resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to resistance to fall armyworm, sheath blight, bacterial blight, and root-knot nematode, as well as lignin deposition and chlorogenic acid accumulation.